The Tomb being Excavated in Amphipolis May be Linked to Alexander the Great

September 8, 2014

ATHENS — Archaeologists excavating a burial mound in northern Greece have found two marble sculptures of female figures and a large, colored marble panel in what appears to be the antechamber of the main room.

The tomb, in the town of Amphipolis, dates between 325 B.C. — two years before Alexander the Great’s death — and 300 B.C.

There is some speculation that one of his relatives or generals might be buried there. Alexander was buried in Egypt but the preponderance of female sculptured figures, the size and the exception quality of the construction the tomb and the artwork suggest to some scholars that Alexander’s mother Olympias and/or his Persian wife Roxana may be buried there.

Some also wonder whether the monumental tomb was in fact commissioned by Alexander himself for his burial. His funeral cortege was hijacked and diverted to Egypt.

The 60-centimeter (2-foot) female figurines are on a wall leading to the yet unexplored main room. The marble panel, 4.2 meters (14 feet) long by 1 meter (3.3 feet) wide, is carved with geometric shapes and painted dark red and yellow. It is located up a wall in the 6.5-meter (21.3-feet) high antechamber.